The junior right-hander is a thinking man’s pitcher, constantly setting up his next pitches and enjoying each challenge which comes his way. His cerebral approach allows Harrington to keep his emotions below the surface but he is a fierce competitor, who loves winning, so he could finally unleash them at that moment.

Everything that makes Harrington the player and the pitcher he is was on display Wednesday afternoon as he willed Warrior Run to an exciting victory. Harrington threw a masterful four-hit shutout, struck out eight and hit an RBI double as the Defenders edged Jersey Shore, 1-0. Harrington’s first inning RBI double which scored Cohen Zechman was all the offense he needed as the three-year starter improved to 3-0 and helped Warrior Run (6-0) remain undefeated.

“Griff put us on his back with both the bat and on the mound,” Warrior Run coach Derrick Zechman said. “That’s why he’s Griff. He’s a gamer. He battles.”

“I definitely felt good coming straight out of the bullpen,” Harrington said. “I felt dominant. I felt like I had some juice behind me.”

Tyler Ulrich of Warrior Run waits at second base to tag out Mason Winter of Jersey Shore in Jersey Shore. Warrior Run won 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

He certainly did and he squeezed it all out against Jersey Shore. Harrington was locked in from the first inning, when he retired the side on 13 pitches, until he clinched victory with his eighth straight strikeout, delivered on his 99th pitch. Standing 6-foot-4, Harrington can be an imposing presence but it’s the Nolan Ryan type arm mixed with the Greg Maddux-like mind which makes him especially effective.

Harrington pitches like it’s a chess game, understanding each pitch and/or situation impacts the next one and others to come later. He has made steady progress each season at Warrior Run and has started strong, scattering 11 hits in 18 innings, while striking out 23 this year.

“It’s always setting up the next pitch. It’s a mind game. It’s the game within the game,” Harrington said. “You have to out think them a little bit in that situation and be able to spice it up, be able to throw any pitch in any count. That’s so huge, having the confidence and the command to throw any pitch in the count.”

Harrington needed every arrow in his quiver on a day Jersey Shore’s Landyn Rhea, Zach Myers and Nolen Pauling combined on their own brilliant three-hitter. Harrington was at his best in pressure-field moments, working out of a first and third, one-out jam in the sixth two innings after leaving the go-ahead runners on first and second with one out two innings earlier.

He was at 86 pitches entering the seventh and delivered again, retiring the side in order, while recording two more strikeouts. And that sixth inning was the only time Harrington let a runner move past second base.

Collin Berguson of Jersey Shore makes a leaping catch on a ball hit by James Keifer of Warrior Run in center field in the 4th inning in Jersey Shore. Warrior Run won 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“He thrives in those positions. He embraces it. He’s not afraid to fail. That’s what makes him tough at the plate and on the mound,” Zechman said. “When he’s on the mound you have a chance to win every game, especially if you have good defense behind him.”

Warrior Run certainly had that, playing error-less baseball. After Collin Berguson launched a double to deep left field which opened the sixth inning, Hunter Enders moved him to third with a flyball and Austin Rhinehart walked. The go-ahead runners on the corners, Harrington and his defense stayed calm and third baseman James Keifer started an inning-ending double play, stopping a hard smash while playing in.

Both teams have scored runs in bunches at times this season, so when Harrington belted his first-inning RBI double it was doubtful anyone there thought it would be the game’s only run. Zechman led the game off with a walk before Tillson bunted him to second. Harrington then drilled his RBI double into the left-center field gap as Zechman easily scored. He later walked and singled, improving his batting average to .625.

“I’m always ready and on my toes for the next pitch. It’s an amazing feeling catching the barrel of the bat,” Harrington said. “I’m ready for any pitch. I’ve been seeing all sorts of different pitches, different junk, so the confidence I have at the plate right now is off the charts and I wan to keep it up as long as I can.”

Rhea did a fantastic job stifling Warrior Run’s momentum and producing his second straight stellar outing. The senior left-hander has allowed just on earned run in consecutive starters and limited Warrior Run to three hits over 5 2/3 innings. Like Harrington, Rhea also repeatedly came through in crucial situations and is quickly asserting himself as one of the area’s breakthrough pitchers this season.

Cohen Zechman of Warrior Run flies through the air as he’s called out at first base on the play by Austin Rhinehart of Jersey Shore in Jersey Shore. Warrior Run won 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Over his last two starts, Rhea has held South Williamsport and Warrior Run to five hits and two earned runs over 11 2/3 innings.

“Landyn Rhea has been amazing for us this year. I can’t say enough about him. I can see his confidence growing each day,” Jersey Shore coach Joe Dunn said. “He’s dealing and he’s keeping us in the game. He came over after first inning and said I’m not loose yet and he got loose quick and the rest is history.”

Myers (2 for 3) entered in the sixth after Rhea reached 100 pitches and stranded two runners. Freshmen Nolen Pauling then kept the clutch pitching going in the seventh inning, leaving runners on first and second with no outs. The freshmen put together a fabulous defensive performance at shortstop and has surrendered just one hit in five appearances.

Fellow freshman Carter Rhinehart also shined defensively for Jersey Shore. He replaced Myers at third base when the latter went to the mound in the sixth and made a tremendous stop and throw from the hole to deny Warrior Run a run and close the inning. When Pauling took the hill, Rhinehart moved to shortstop and history repeated itself in the seventh with the freshman making another terrific stop and helping Pauling strand two more runners.

All those are positive developments. The result was not what Jersey Shore wanted but this was a massive turnaround from Monday when it made nine errors in an 18-7 loss against Selinsgrove. They did not get the win Wednesday, but playing like they did there, certainly could help the Bulldogs win moving forward.

Isaiah Betz of Warrior Run is safe at first base as Austin Rhinehart of Jersey Shore can’t handle the ball during the top of the 6th inning in Jersey Shore. Warrior Run won 1-0. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“I told them at the end of the game you can sleep well tonight because top to bottom they picked each other up. When we arrived at the park today the kids were ready to go,” Dunn said. “They felt real bad about what happened Monday and they knew what type of team was coming here, and they showed up. I told them if they bring that type of game the rest of the season I think we’ll be fine.”

Warrior Run 100 000 0–1 3 0

Jersey Shore 000 000 0–0 4 1

Griffen Harrington and Landon Tillson. Landyn Rhea, Zach Myers (6), Nolen Pauling (7) and Hunter Enders. W–Harrington, (3-0). L–Rhea, (2-1).

Top Warrior Run hitters: Harrington 2-3, 2B, BB, RBI; Tyler Ulrich 1-2, BB; Cohen Zechman 2 BB. Top Jersey Shore hitters: Myers 2-3; Collin Berguson 1-3, 2B; Mason Winters 1-2; Austin Rhinehart 2 BB.

Records: Warrior Run 6-0. Jersey Shore 4-3.